Inside the Studio
A Day in the Life of Mira Petkova's Workshop
Light, repetition, and carefully timed pauses shape a working day in Mira Petkova's Sofia studio.
ArtDoll archive
Stories
Studio visits, artist conversations, collecting guides, and essays on material culture.
Care & Display
How to Store Art Dolls: A Practical Checklist for Fragile Mixed-Media Details
Document the condition, support the structure, relieve pressure on fragile details, and pack every component according to its particular materials.
Materials
Beads, Sequins, and Embroidery on Art Dolls: Add Surface Detail Without Damaging the Base
Choose surface decoration by the doll’s base, internal support, scale, and handling needs—not simply by the effect you want.
Process
How to Sew a Cloth Art Doll Body: Fabric, Seams, Turning and Stuffing
Small cloth figures reward slow, accurate construction: test your materials, respect the pattern’s seam allowance, turn gently, and build firmness in …
Materials
Turning an Embroidered Panel Into a Soft Art Doll: Seams, Linings, and Clean Assembly
Protect detailed stitching by planning motif placement around seams, building a flexible support stack, and reducing bulk before the doll is turned …
Care & Display
How to Display Lampwork Glass Figures: Mounting, Packing, and Storage
Support lampworked glass creatures at their strongest, broadest areas, then prevent movement without pressing on legs, tentacles, antennae, or surface …
Process
Bead Embroidery Faces on Art Dolls: Building Features Without a Stiff Surface
Build facial presence by modelling the head’s planes first, then using thread, beads, and controlled density to reinforce expression.
Care & Display
Lighted Art Dolls and Miniature Figures: LED Heat, Battery Access, and Safe Display Planning
Plan a lighted display around access, inspection, and serviceability so the illumination does not compromise a handmade object’s materials or future …
Process
Bead Embroidery on Art Dolls: Stabilising Faces, Garments and Raised Surface Work
Treat bead embroidery as a shaped, load-bearing surface: plan its curve, distribute its weight, protect its edges and leave a route for repair.
Materials
Lampwork Glass Art Doll Details: Designing, Attaching, and Packing Fragile Features
Treat lampworked eyes, tentacles, fins, and miniature appendages as vulnerable, non-load-bearing components from the first sketch through shipping.